Moving something here or there is so easy with the Peninsula's Packaging Store...

Most Alaskans, at one time or another have moved here or there.While we may not be nomads, we do move around a lot with a little help from our friends and their trucks. Look around peoples' home and you'll find something that someone has nicked, scratched, gouged or glued back together.

Proof of our moving ways and willingness, is we will lend a helping hand or dolly to a neighbor. People have become familiar with The Packaging Store's TV ads and jingles about wrapping and stacking those special items so you don't have to worry about them. You might not be aware that The Packaging Store has a locally owned franchise here in Soldotna, located just off the Spur Hwy on Marydale across from Cad-re Feed.

Dave Coombes and his son Chris have owned the local moving and shipping center since 2001, which was formerly located off of Poppy Lane. Dave and Chris moved their family owned business to their new location in Soldotna last February. They have been moving everything imaginable to everywhere imaginable ever since. "We do a variety of things. We are well-known for our tender loving care of heirlooms and prized items that are fragile, valuable, or uniquely sized. In addition, we take care of local home or business moves, and the palletized move that would include moving grand moms heirloom to the lower 48, as well as small parcel items like frozen fish or a small envelope that needs to get to the other side of the country," said Dave Coombes.

Whether a home or office, people might assume that hiring a professional mover is unaffordable compared to renting a truck and imposing on friends; a call to The Packaging Store for a free estimate might shock them out of a chiropractor's bill. "We'll do as little or as much as you want, we have a strong moving crew and a big box truck, a stair climber hand truck that can handle gun safes, or heavy filing cabinets, or pianos. We'll get your items moved safely and save you the stress and visit to the chiropractor. We have a lot of local experience and happy customers," said Chris, who graduated from SoHi, took courses at KPC, and is now partners with his dad. "It's been a valuable experience, KPC offered the businesses classes I needed to run a business and my dad gave me the opportunity to go into business with him. I was fortunate not to have to leave home to look for work or rack up a huge student dept," added Chris.

The Packaging Store provides local moving, packing, palletizing, crating, shipping and supplies-all at their new location. "Carriers offer us huge discounts because of the volume of shipments we give them and we pass that savings on to our customers. That's our business and when fishing season is here we are a low cost provider for UPS and FedEx shipping and freight for taxidermy, and larger items. We have spent years figuring out the best ways to package and transport items to and from Alaska. Give us a call or come by and check out our new location, whether you just need some advice, supplies, or would like a quote," said Coombes.

Winter hours at The Packaging Store 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday-Friday and Saturday by appointment. Call 907-260-4862 or learn more at www.packagingstoreak.com.